OBJECTIVE: Provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) is a common genital pain condition characterized by severe pain upon vaginal penetration. The treatment of women with PVD suggests variable efficacy across modalities. The emotional toll of PVD, because of the intimate and interpersonal nature of this sexually-provoked pain, and the relationship between PVD and anxiety, depression, and a host of subclinical emotional symptoms that may interfere with treatment, has been well documented. The role of the gynaecologist in identifying and managing these psychological symptoms has never been addressed. The goal of this study was to examine the efficacy of a brief, gynaecologist-led educational seminar on measures of psychological symptoms and sexual health. METHODS: Twenty-nine women with PVD participated in three one-hour educational seminars led by a gynaecologist with expertise in the management of PVD. Participants completed questionnaires before, immediately after, and six months after the third session. RESULTS: There were significant improvements in psychological symptoms of depression, anxiety, somatization, hostility, paranoid ideation, psychoticism, and the global severity index, both immediately post-seminar and at the six-month follow-up. Sexual arousal, orgasm, overall sexual function, and sexual distress also significantly improved in response to the seminars. CONCLUSION: Gynaecologist-led educational seminars delivered in a group format have a significant positive impact on psychological symptoms and sexual functioning in women who suffer from PVD.
OBJECTIVE: Provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) is a common genital pain condition characterized by severe pain upon vaginal penetration. The treatment of women with PVD suggests variable efficacy across modalities. The emotional toll of PVD, because of the intimate and interpersonal nature of this sexually-provoked pain, and the relationship between PVD and anxiety, depression, and a host of subclinical emotional symptoms that may interfere with treatment, has been well documented. The role of the gynaecologist in identifying and managing these psychological symptoms has never been addressed. The goal of this study was to examine the efficacy of a brief, gynaecologist-led educational seminar on measures of psychological symptoms and sexual health. METHODS: Twenty-nine women with PVD participated in three one-hour educational seminars led by a gynaecologist with expertise in the management of PVD. Participants completed questionnaires before, immediately after, and six months after the third session. RESULTS: There were significant improvements in psychological symptoms of depression, anxiety, somatization, hostility, paranoid ideation, psychoticism, and the global severity index, both immediately post-seminar and at the six-month follow-up. Sexual arousal, orgasm, overall sexual function, and sexual distress also significantly improved in response to the seminars. CONCLUSION: Gynaecologist-led educational seminars delivered in a group format have a significant positive impact on psychological symptoms and sexual functioning in women who suffer from PVD.
Authors: Ruby H N Nguyen; Rachael M Turner; Sarah A Rydell; Richard F Maclehose; Bernard L Harlow Journal: Pain Med Date: 2013-06-06 Impact factor: 3.750
Authors: Els Pazmany; Huynh Giao Ly; Leen Aerts; Michiko Kano; Sophie Bergeron; Johan Verhaeghe; Ronald Peeters; Jan Tack; Patrick Dupont; Paul Enzlin; Lukas Van Oudenhove Journal: Neuroimage Clin Date: 2017-07-25 Impact factor: 4.881
Authors: Serena Corsini-Munt; Kate M Rancourt; Justin P Dubé; Meghan A Rossi; Natalie O Rosen Journal: J Pain Res Date: 2017-10-09 Impact factor: 3.133